Pros:
Big course sign on your way to the first tee. The tee signs themselves do the job. A good map of the hole with fairway shape and distances. They are in the process of being updated as a second pin has been added on almost every hole (if not every hole). When I visited, the mix of short and long pins in use was excellent.
The dark blue MachX baskets stand out against any background. Trees, sky, dirt, doesnt matter. Holes 4, 15, and 17 have baskets set in both positions to add some different playthrough options.
With having to cross the road this many times, the directional signs for those crossings are very helpful.
There's a nice flow of difficulty here. The first four holes are simpler, the next four more open and long, and the rest in varying thicknesses of woods (except 14) with all different distances. Some close enough to ace run, some requiring two spot-on drives.
Several holes have difficult tee spots; a rarity as I more often see the basket being the tougher point to access. But holes 7, 8, 11, and 17 have some decent challenge getting off the tee. This bumps my enjoyment factor up greatly as it pushed me to try some different lines than normal. Along with this there's some very unique and challenging greens. 2 deep to the right, 3 on the island, both pins on 4, 10, 15, and 16 right.
Maintenance was very good. Grass was short in the fairway and long off of it.
Mandos are used very well to keep shots from erring out onto the road. There are only a few holes that actually run that risk (8, 12, 14, 16, and if you get really creative on 11 like me) but the course has been designed with that in mind.
Cons:
The closest parking to the beginning of the course has a baseball field in the way. The basket of 18 is also on the wrong side of left field.
At a course of this caliber, there's normally a practice basket... but, not here.
The walk under the highway between 4-5 and 15-16. I know it was necessary to fit the course in, but it does have to be a mark against.
There are unfortunately a few holes that feel like filler. 3, 9, 16 and 17 all suffer from this. Especially 17, as it's a ridiculously sharp dogleg left that requires a miracle skip to have a decent birdie look. Luckily the rest of the course is high quality.
The long, blind holes could really use some sort of marking system. On 5, thru 8 it is almost impossible to see either pin placement from the tee. A little A/B washer system would work wonders here.
A few safety concerns, holes 3, 10, and 18 throw right toward a fence, the aforementioned road bordering four holes, and players having to cross the road four times. Normally I wouldn't mention this, but the road curves sharply right near three of the four crossings, and people drive about 50 down this road.
Other Thoughts:
Bartlett is a track with a lot of really good and challenging holes, but also a lot of flaws. Major navigational annoyances, clear and obvious filler holes, and not knowing whether to throw a 12-speed or a 6-speed off the tee. Despite the negatives it is still a really fun, difficult round that will test your control and accuracy over pure power. Definitely a course worth checking out!